Overview
Research has focused on understanding and reducing the formation of 'viscous fingers.' This phenomenon occurs when a less viscous fluid attempts to displace a more viscous fluid, leading to intricate, finger-like intrusions rather than a smooth, uniform displacement front.
Research Context
The problem of 'viscous fingering' is illustrated by the common experience of adding water to a nearly empty soap dispenser. Instead of mixing effectively to dilute the remaining soap, the water often channels directly through the soap, resulting in a minimally sudsy output. This observation highlights the inefficient displacement characteristic of viscous fingering, where the less viscous fluid (water) bypasses the more viscous fluid (soap) rather than pushing it out uniformly.